Cairn-mon-earn

You'll spot Cairn-mon-earn from miles away - a proper stubby peak rising up near Drumoak with views that stretch all the way to the Dee Valley. It's the sort of hill that looks modest from the road but rewards walkers with genuine Highland scenery once you're up there. The climb takes around an hour from the base, nothing too gnarly but steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. On a clear day the panorama across Aberdeenshire is the real draw here - you can pick out other peaks and the curve of the land falling away towards the coast. Walkers with even basic fitness will get something from it. Families with older kids can manage the ascent without drama, though younger ones might struggle with the gradient. The routes are straightforward rather than technical, so navigation isn't a headache. Free to visit, obviously - it's a Scottish hillside. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking it steady and want to linger at the top. Best time is late spring through early autumn when the weather's more reliable and the light holds longer. If you're staying at Silverbank or Banchory Lodge - both absolutely top-rated spots - this sits nicely as a morning or early afternoon outing. It's not a mammoth undertaking that'll dominate your day, which means you can couple it with exploring the Dee Valley itself or poking about Drumoak village. Worth doing once while you're in the area, even if it's not one of those peaks you'll bang on about for years.